Unemployment dance

It's quite a big city, Sydney.

It's the biggest place Jake and I have ever lived together, let's put it that way.

The reality of being a tiny, and at this age and stage, a rather elderly fishy in a very VERY large pond, employment-wise, is beginning to weigh heavily.

Previously in Europe, I've enjoyed the luxury of  being a medium sized, maybe sometimes even a large fishy in a small round bowl of English language speakers.

As such, I have been very fortunate in my working life to date to be able to pick and choose, to lay down terms and prices, to pretty much be offered jobs, rather than go chasing.

I've also been fortunate enough for the last ten years not to have to work at all if I didn't feel like it, as a result of which, I've taken on projects that appealed to me with people who interested me.  If I felt like writing a little something, I'd write it, if I felt like chatting, I'd go on air, if I wanted an office job, I'd create one.  I have been really rather spoiled.

However.

Turns out it's stressful and exhausting and discouraging, looking for a 'real' job when you actually need one - it's absolutely a full time job in itself.

Realistically, I needed to start work at least three months ago.  I started looking in earnest at least two months ago.

During that time, there have been three major CV rewrites.

The first tells the truth, which is apparently too bizarre for Sydney recruitment tastes.  After all, how can a person who allegedly boasts a strong financial background possibly have also worked as a radio presenter?

The second version minimizes all the media work of the last ten years and heavily underlines the original financial career. 

And the third says 'I speak four foreign languages.  It's summer in a popular international tourist area.  For crying out loud, you need me in your Bondi beach shop'.

I've also put up local adverts for pet sitting, childminding, bookkeeping and translating.

And at the end of all that?

Absolutely no interest.

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On the other hand, look at what we have accomplished with all this unemployment!

After a full term of ballet school, Jake and I were finally able to pull up a chair and just watch the magic for the first week ever.  It's taken two of us (one fielding front of hall, one fielding back), to get our ballerina to stay on task sufficiently to finish a short half hour class.

But this week, she excelled herself.

We can work when we're old - we'll make up the time later on when the kids are grown.

Goodness, it's been heartbreaking enough these past weeks watching my gorgeous little boy prepare for high school.

So for now, since its out of our control anyway, let there be dancing and music and skateboarding and swimming and dress up and surfing and late nights and date nights.  

Let us relax for a while and live at the beach.